Hinen's career-best helps Foresters win Ness Bros. HOF Classic

Sunday, November 10, 2013 10:13 AM

Huntington University forward Shane Merryman flies past an indiana University East defender on his way to a bucket in the Foresters' 102-76 win in the championship game Saturday of the Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic. Photo by Scott Trauner.

Freshman point guard Derek Hinen tallied a career-best 26 points to lead five Foresters in double figures as the Huntington University men's basketball team captured its own Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic with a 102-76 blasting of Indiana University East on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Hinen, from Columbia City, hit 8 of 9 shots from the floor and 9 of 11 free throws as HU improved to 5-0 on the season.

The Foresters as a team had another hot-shooting night from the field as they hit 37 of 54 field goal tries for 68.5 percent, including 10 of 18 from three-point land for 55.6 percent. They added to the fun with an 18 of 24 effort from the free-throw line for 75 percent.

Shane Merryman posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards to back up Hinen. T.J. Short and Drew Benedict each pumped in 14 points and Daniel Woll added 12 points.

The Foresters had a 20-point bulge at halftime, leading 54-34. They got their first double-digit margin at 19-9 when Benedict fired in the second of his four three-pointers in the half at the 13:47 mark.

Not only has hot shooting marked the Foresters this season, but their ability to find the open man was again on display against IUE as the team piled up 28 assists on its 37 field goals. Hinen led the way with seven dimes, Woll had six, Tyler Ault had five and Ryan Boester and Benedict each contributed four.